FAA Seeks Penalties Against American Airlines for Deferred Maintenance, Other Violations

FAA Seeks Penalties Against American Airlines for Deferred Maintenance,
Other Violations

August 14, 2008,
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) today announced
actions totaling $7.1 million in civil penalties against American Airlines
for improperly deferring maintenance on safety-related equipment and
deficiencies with its drug and alcohol testing programs and exit lighting
inspections. The FAA asserts that in December 2007, American used the wrong
provisions of its Minimum Equipment List (MEL) to return two MD-83 aircraft
to service after pilots had reported problems, and flew the planes 58 times
in violation of FAA regulations. The MEL contains components and systems
without which the aircraft may operate safely under specific limitations, as
proven by the operator or manufacturer. On December 11 and 12, American
operated the first MD-83 on eight flights in airspace it should have been
restricted from after maintenance on part of the autopilot system was
improperly deferred. An FAA inspector discovered the improper deferral and
informed the airline, however American flew the plane on 10 more revenue
flights until the problem was fixed on December 17.

In another incident, the
autopilot disconnected during a landing by the same aircraft on December 21.
American technicians did not check for the actual problem, and instead
deferred maintenance using an inappropriate MEL item. The plane flew another
36 passenger-carrying flights during December 21-31. Airline maintenance
later discovered the fault was in a radio altimeter – not the autopilot. For
the violations involving this MD-83, the FAA is proposing a $4.1 million
civil penalty. A different MD-83 experienced an autopilot disconnect on
December 27. Although American mechanics correctly diagnosed the problem,
they again deferred maintenance under the wrong item of the MEL. As a
result, the aircraft operated on four revenue flights without a fully
functioning autopilot. The FAA is proposing a $325,000 civil penalty in this
instance.

The FAA believes the large
total amount of the fine for these violations is appropriate because
American Airlines was aware that appropriate repairs were needed, and
instead deferred maintenance. In intentionally continuing to fly the
aircraft, the carrier did not follow important safety regulations intended
to protect passengers and crew. Also, in May of this year the FAA proposed
civil penalties in the amount of $2.7 million in civil penalties against
American for alleged past deficiencies in its drug and alcohol testing
programs and for allegedly operating aircraft in past years without timely
inspections of emergency escape path lighting systems. The amount included
$1.7 million civil penalty for the testing program violations and $1 million
for the lighting inspection violations.